Clamping device



July 30, 1963 Filed April 6, 1961 O. R. ARCHER CLAMPING DEVICE Elli?" 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Tl ll i swf .l

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INVENTOR. Oso/v A. APCE@ vi", 7 @m/141, -fll f Arron/v5 Ys July 30, 1963o. R. ARCHER 3,099,474

CLAMPING DEVICE Filed April 6, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Hum L. I

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States 3,099,474 Patented July 30, 1963 3,099,474 CLAMPlNG DEVICE OsbornR. Archer, Cleveland, Ohio, assigner to The American Ship BuildingCompany, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation o New dersey Filed Apr. 6, 1961,Ser. No. 101,227 19 Claims. (Cl. 292-2565) This invention relates toclamping devices and, more particuiarly, to a novel clamping device foruse in securing removable cover means on an associated support.

The clamping device provided by this invention can be used to advantageWherever a cover means is subject to frequent removal and actuation ofthe clamping device with minimum manual eifort and time expenditure isdesirable. One nse rior which the clamping device hereof is well suitedis for certain types of hatch covers on marine vessels and 'other cargocarrying vehicles. The invention is disclosed herein as applied to such:a hatch cover use but without any intention of limiting the sameprecisely rtllereto.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel clamping device of -asimple and practical construction capable of being readily installed,easily operated, and which produces `a desired positive and effectiveclamping action.

Another object is to provide a novel clamping device of the charactermentioned and which comprises a bracket member and a clamp member havingguide opening means 'and guide lstem means co-operably eectivetherebetween during Imovement of the yclamp member toward its clampingposition, and locking means actuatable to a Ilocked condition forretaining the clamp member in its clamping position `and the guide stemmeans engaged in the guide opening means.

A form of cover means with which the novel clamping device is usable toffurther advantage is `one having top and depending iside portions towhich it is desirable to apply individual clamping forces and which sidecover portion is disposed adjacent an upright portion of the cover`support means` when the cover means is in an applied positionthereon.An example of this form of covel means is a conventional marine hatchcover frequently used on selJunloading marine vessels and having platesections telescopingly slidable in a |lateral direction and a tarpanlin,or like flexible sheet means, extending over the plate sections anddovvn alongside the upright portion of the support means.

As a further object, this invention provides a novel clamping deviceofthe type :and for the kind of use above indicated, and wherein theclamp member has rst and second thrust means fior clamping engagement,respectively, vvith the top and side portions of the cover means.

Still another object is to provide a novel clamping device havin-gangularly disposed dual thrust means engageable with top and sideportions of a cover means in response to movement fof a clamp memberrelative to a bracket member and along a guide axis provided bycooperably engageable guide opening means and guide stem means.

Additionally, this invention provides a novel clamping device of thekind referred to above :and having actuatable locking means. pivoted onthe bracket member and Aconnected with the clamp member by push-pulllink means, the locking means preferably being of a toggleaction type.

Other objects, novel characteristics, and advantages of this inventionwill be apparent in the following detailed description land in theaccompanying drawings forming a pant of this specication and in which,

FIG. l is mainly a side elevation of a clamping device of the novelconstruction provided by this invention but also shows portions fof asupport structure and a cover 2 means in vertical section, the viewbeing taken on section li-ne 1-1 of FlG. 2;

FIG. 2 is mainly a front elevation o-f the clamping device but alsoshows` portions of the cover means and suppfont structure, the viewbeing taken as indicated by the direction line 2 2 ot FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a :side elevation lof the bracket member of the device indetached relation;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the bracket member;

FIG. 5 is an end view thereof;

FlG. 6 is aside elevation of an actuating tool applicable to the novelclamping device; and

rFIG. 7 is a bottom plan view orf the tool.

As one embodiment of this invention the drawings show the clampingdevice 10 thereof being nsed for removably securing :a cover means 11lon a support structure 12 in a position closing an Iopening lor passage13 of the latter. The clamping device 1G` is shown in full lines inFIGS. l and 2 in its cover-securing position and, in FIG. 1, is alsoshown in a phantom line cover releasing position 10a.

Although the novel. clamping device 10` is applicable to varionsdifferent forms of cover means and support structures, the cover means11 is here shown as being of the hatch-cover type and the supportstructure 12 is here shown as being a portion of a marine vessel onwhich the cover means 11 is used for closing a hatch opening. Thesupport structure 12 comprises deck means 14 and an upright coaming 15rising above the deck means and extending aro-und the hatch opening. Thecoaming 15 is secured to the deck means 14 as by means of welds 17 and,in this case, also has an angle bar .or the like 18 secured thereto at apoint just bel-ow ya cover seat 20` formed by ,the t'op edge of thecoaming.

The cover means 1-1 is here shown as comprising plate means 2,1 resting'on the seat 20` and a flexible cover sheet 22, such as a tarpaulin orthe like, extending over the plate means 21 and having edge portionsthereof carnied downward adjacent or alongside of the coaming 15. Theplate means 21 may comprise a unitary cover structure or, if desired,may comprise laterally -telescopingly slidable cover plate members eachhaving a substantially horizontal top wall 21a extending across thehatch opening 13 and depending lianges 21b at `the ends thereof. Ineither case, the top portion of the plate means 21 provides asubstantially horizontal clamping :area 25 directly above the seat 20.Lower edge portions of the cover sheet 22 are preferably wrapped aroundconventional batteri strips 24 for a purpose to be explained hereinafterand which batten strips extend in a horizontal direction alongside ofthe coaming 15.

The clamping device 10 comprises, in general, a bracket member 26, laclamp member 27, and a locking means 28 connected between the bracketmember Vand clamp member and effective on the latter for retaining thesame in clamping co-operation with the cover means 11. A plurality ofthe clamping devices 10` is usually pnovided in a spaced-apart relationalong mhe coaming 1'5 for producing a clamping laction on the covermeans I11 at spaced points along the edge portions of the latter.

The bracket member 26 is attached to the coaming :1'5 as by means of awelded connection 29 and extends in a laterally projecting relation fromthe coaming at a suitable distance above the deck means 14. ln additionto providing a support for the clamp member 27 and the locking means 28,the bracket member 26 also serves as a support for the hatten strip 24when the cover means 11 is in its applied position on the coaming 15.When the batteri strip 24 is thus supported by the bracket member 26 itlies alongside the coaming 15 and the outer surface of the batten stripprovides a substantially vertical second or lower clamping area 30.

The clamp member 27 comprises a body 31, in this case, a body having avertically elongated substantially straight intermediate portion Sla andan upper end portion providing a laterally extending arm 31b whichprojects in a laterally inward and overhanging relation to the edgeportion of the plate means 21 and the horizontal clamping area 25 of thelatter. The lower end portion 31 of the clamp member 27 co-operates withthe bracket member 26 in a manner which will be presently explained. Itwill be observed from FIG. l that the body 3l is of a generally C-shapedform and, if desired, this body can have a limited flexibility.

The clamp member 27 also comprises thrust means for applying theclamping force to the cover means 111 and which thrust-means comprises arst or upper thrust means 34 on the arm portion 31h of the body 3'1 anda second or lower clamping, means 35 on the lower end portion 31c ofsuch body. In the applied position of the clamping device 10, the `firstthrust means 34 applies downward clamping force to the thrust area y25for pressing the cover means against the seat 20 and the second thrustmeans 35 applies clamping pressure in a lateral direction to the loweredge portion of the cover sheet 22 and to the batten strip 24 forclamping such sheet and hatten strip against the coaming l5. i

The upper -and lower thrust means 34 and 35 each comprises a threadedstem 36- engaged in an internally threaded opening of the body 3l and alock nut 37 applied to the stem for securing the same in a desiredposition of adjustment. Each of the thrust means 34 and 35 alsocomprises pad means 38 on the threaded stem 36 at the free end thereoffor applying the clamping pressure in a distributed relation to theclamping area with which the thrust means co-operates. The thrust means34 and 35 lare individually adjustable to adapt the clamping device tothe particular cover means and support structure with which it is beingused.

The bracket member 26 and the clamp member 27 have guide portionsthereon 'which are co-operably effective along a common guide axis 40during relative engaging and disengaging movements between thesemembers. The vguide portions of the two members comprising the bracketmember 26 and the clamp member 27 consist of guide opening means on oneof these members and guide stern means on the other of the members andreceivable in such guide opening means.

In the drawings the guide portion of the bracket member 26 comprisessuch a guide opening means 41 which extends into or through this memberfrom the upper side thereof. The guide portion of the clamp member 27 ishere shown as being such a guide stern means 4Z formed rigid with thebody 31 and extending in a downwardly projecting relation from the lowerend portion 31C. The

kguide opening means 41 and the guide stem means 42 are of a similarcross-sectional shape, preferably a quadrangular cross-sectional shape,so that the guide stem means and the clamp body 31 will be held in anonrotatable relation when the stem means is engaged in the guideopening means.

The guide opening means `41 and the guide stern means 42 are so formedthat the common guide axis 40` thereof extends -in an inclined relationto the planes of one or both of the clamping areas 25- and 32 of thecover means :11 and, in this case, is shown as extending at an inclinedrelation of approximately 30l degrees to the plane of the coaming .l5and 60 degrees to the plane of the deck means 14. The inclination of thecommon guide axis 40 is in a downward and inward direction relative tothe coaming so that entering movement of the guide steam means 42 intothe guide opening means 4l will result in a lateral movement of thelower thrust means 3'5 in a direction toward the coaming for increasingthe clamping pressure being applied to the clamping area 13h as theupper thrust means 34 is being moved downward to apply pressure to theclamping area 25.

The locking means 25 forms a flexible connection between the clampmember 27 and the bracket member 26 and is movable to locking andunlocking positions. The locking means 28 is shown in its lockingposition in full lines in FIG. l and is shown in phantom lines in itsunlocking position 28a. The locking means 2S comprises linkage means ofthe toggle-action type, to be presently described, and a portion ofwhich has an overcenter movement with respect to a median line 46 whichextends substantially parallel to the common guide axis 4t) when theclamping device lltl is in its applied position and locked condition.

The locking means 28 comprises actuatable means in the form of a pair ofswingable link arms 47 lying on opposite sides of the bracket member 26,and push-pull connecting link means in the form of a pair of linkmembers `4S having the upper ends thereof pivotally connected with theclamp member 27 by a pivot pin 49 extending through a bearing portion S0of the body 31. 'The lower ends of the link members 455 are pivotallyconnected with the swingable link arms 47 by a pair of pivot pins 44 and45 projecting from the latter.

The swingable link arms 47 are pivotally mounted on the bracket member21e by being secured to the projecting ends of a pivot pin 5l whichextends through the bracket member. The median line 46 extends throughthe pivot axes of the pivot pins 49 and 5l, as shown in FIG. l, and theportion of the locking means 28 having the above-mentioned over-centermovement with respect to this median line is the pivotal connectionformed by the pivot pins 44 and 45.

The location of the pivot pin 5l of the locking means 28 is in alaterally oifset relation to the common guide axis 40 and on the side ofthe latter which is nearest to the coaming l5. The location of the pivotpin 51 in this position assists the movement of the guide stern means 42into the guide opening means 4l during actuation of the locking means 28to its locking position, as well as a lateral movement of the lowerthrust means in an inward direction against the batten strip 24. Thislocation for the pivot pin `SI1 relative to the common guide axis alsohas the effect of causing the upper thrust means 34 to remain in properengagement with its associated clamping area 2S when this upper thrustmeans is pulled downward thereagainst during actuation of the lockingmeans 2S to its locking position.

The bracket means 26 is provided with appropriate stop means, in thiscase, stop means in the form of laterally projecting lugs 54 on oppositesides thereof for limiting the movement of the locking means 2S in itslocking direction. The lugs 54 have inclined stop faces 54a and arelocated so that these inclined stop faces will be engaged by :edgeportions of the link members 48, as shown in FIG. l, when the lockingmeans 28 has been fully actuated to its locking position. When the linkmembers 48 `are thus engaged with the stop lugs 54 the pivot meansprovided by the pins 44 and 45 will lie on the left side of the medianline 46, yas shown in FIG. l, so that the toggle action of the lockingmeans 2S will tend to retain the clamping device l0 in its fully appliedand locked condition.

When the locking means 28 is actuated to its unlocking condition, thepivot pins 44 and 45 move across the median line 46 `and swing upwardly`and toward the right, as seen in FIG. l, to the phantom line position44a. This movement of the pivot pins 44 and 45 applies an upward pushingforce to the link members 4S by which the guide stem means 42 isdisengaged from the guide opening means 41 whereupon the clamp member 27will be swingable on the pivot pin 49 to its phantom line position 27ain which the upper and lower thrust means 34 and 35 will have -beenretracted from their associated thrust areas 25 and 30 of the covermeans 11.

It is desirable to prevent the clamp member 27 from dropping lonto thedeck means 14 when the clamp member has been actuated to its releasedposition 27a and, for this purpose, the bracket member 26 is providedwith abutment means 55 which is engageable by the guide stem means 42-as shown in FIG. 1. The shape and 1ocation of the abutment means 55:are such that when the clamp member 27 swings to its retracted position27a, the free end of the guide stem means 42 seats against the surface55a of the abutment means. The clamp member 27 will then be supported ina parked position :at a `distance above the deck means 14 so as not toobstruct 'the deck area and so as to also be in Ia position from whichit can be quickly and easily moved toward its full line clampingposition when the cover means 11 is intended to be secured in place.

In thus moving the clamp member 27 from its parked position to itsetetcive clamping position it need only be lifted and swung toward thecoaming and Ithe guide stem means 42 inserted into the guide openingmeans 41. Thereupon the locking means 28 is actuated by swinging thepivot pins 44 and 45 across the median line 46 and toward the coaming 15whereby the upper thrust means 34 will be pulled downward against itsassociated clamping area and the lower thrust means will be pushedlaterally inward against its associated clamping area 30.

To facilitate the actuation of the locking means 2S in a manner justabove described, the pivot pin 49 and the two pivot pins 44 and 45 areconstructed so that end portions thereof project laterally beyond theexposed faces of the link members 48, as shown in FIG. 2, to constituteupper and lower `tool engageable :elements 56 `and 57. The actuatingforce needed to move the locking means 28 to and from its lockingposition can be supplied by any suitable tool means, one form of whichcomprises a manually operable actuating lever 58 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.The lever 58 comprises a lower base portion 59 of a forked form and anupper handle portion 60 secured to such base portion and extending in-an upwardly and laterally inclined relation therefrom.

The forked lower portion 59 comprises spaced parallel yoke arms 59a and59b having upper and lower hookshaped elements 62 and 63 thereon. Thespacing of the yoke portions 59a and 59h is such that these portionswill be movable past the link members 48 on the outer sides thereof whenthe tool 58 is -applied to the locking means 28, `and Ithe shape sandlocation tof the hook elements '62 and 63 are such that these elementswill thereupon be readily engageable with the projecting pin `elements56 and 57 for connecting the tool with the locking means. By swinginglof the handle portion 60 in the appropriate directions, the link :arms47 will be swung about the axis of the pivot pin 51 to actuate thelocking means 28 to its locking and unlocking conditions.

As shown in FIG. 2, the link arms 47 are secured to the end portions ofthe pivot pin 51 as by means of plug welds 64 and the two pivot pins 44and 45 have .their inner ends secured in the link rarms 47 by similarplug welds 65. The pivot pins 44 and 45 are here shown as provided withcollars 66 lying against the outer faces of the link members `48 forretaining the latter in an adjacent relation to the link arms 47. Theupper ends of the link members 48 are here shown as being secured on endportions of the pivot pin 49 by suitable welds 67.

From the accompanying drawings and the foregoing detailed description itwill now be readily understood that this invention provides novelclamping means by which cover means can be quickly and easily secured inplace on an associated support structure. Since the novel construction,characteristic features and advantages of the novel clamping device havealready been pointed .out and described hereinabove, they need not berepeated at this point.

Although the novel clamping device of this invention has beenillustrated and described herein to a somewhat detailed extent it willbe understood, of course, that the invention is not to be regarded asbeing limited corre- 6 spondingly in scope but includes all changes andmodifications coming within the terms of the claims hereof.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A clamping device for clamping a movable cover against a support;comprising a bracket member adapted to lbe attached to said support; amovable clamp member having thrust means engageable with said cover; oneof said members having guide opening means and the other member havingguide stem means rigid therewith and receivable in said guide openingmeans, :and connecting means connecting said clamp member with saidbracket member for an initial closing swinging movement of lthe clampmember to locate said thrust means in a given presentment positionrelative to said cover; said guide opening means and guide stem meansbeing coi-operably engageable by a subsequent translatory movement ofsaid clamp member `relative to said bracket member land in a directionto engage said thrust means with said cover; said guide stem means beingeffective, in response to t-he engaged condition thereof with saidgui-de opening means, to prevent tilting of said clamp member away fromsaid presentrnent position while permitting said subsequent translatorymovement; said connecting means comprising toggle action type loc-kingmeans movable to a locking position during said subsequent translatorymovement of said clamp member for holding said thrust means engaged withsaid cover and holding said guide stem means and guide opening means intheir ico-operably engaged relation.

2. A clamping device for clamping a movable cover against `a support;comprising a bracket member adapted to be attached to said support; `amovable champ member having thrust means engageable with said cover; oneof said members having guide opening means and the other member havingguide stem means rigid therewith and receivable in said guide openingmeans; said guide opening means and guide stem means being co-operablyengageable -in response to movement of said clamp member relative tosaid bracket member in a direction to engage said thrust means with saidcover; and locking means connecting said 'clamp member with said bracketmember and actua-table from an unlocked condition to a locked conditionfor retaining said thrust means in clamping engagement with said covertand said guide stem means engaged in said guide opening means; saidlocking means compris-.ing swingable link means having a irst pivotalconnection with said bracket member, and connecting link means havingsecond and third pivotal connections with said clamp member andswingable link means for overcenter movement of said second pivotalconnection to produce said locked and unlocked conditions.

3. A clamping device for clamping a mov-able cover against a support;comprising a bracket member adapted to be .attached to said support; amovable clampy member having thrust means engageable with said cover;one of said members .having guide opening means and the other memberhaving guide stem means rigid therewith and receivable in said guideopening means; said lguide opening means and guide stern means beingco-operably engageable to connect said clamp member with said bracketmember in response to translatory movement of said clamp member relativeto said bracket member in a direccion to engage said thrust means withsaid cover; swingable arm means having a first pivotal connection withsaid bracket member; a second pivot means carried by said .arm means andswingable thereby; and connecting link means having one end thereofconnected with said second pivot means and the other end thereofconnected with said clamp member by a third pivot means; said svvingablevarrn means and said connecting link means comprising ya locking meansmovable to locking and unlocking positions by over-center swinging ofsaid second pivot means across a med-.ian line extending through theaxes lof said rst and third pivot means when said guide stem means isengaged in said guide opening means.

4. A Iclamping device for use with closure structure comprising :asupport and an associated movable cover means having .a clamping areacomprising; a bracket member adapted to be attached to said support; amovable clamp member having thrust means located thereon for clampingengagement with said clamping area; co-operable guide means 1on saidmembers comprising a guide opening means -and `a guide stem meansreceivable therein; the guide means of said bracket member providing aguide axis extending in an intersecting relation to the plane of saidclamping area when said cover means is on said support, and said guidestern means being rigid with its associated member; said guide stemmeans being movable into said guide opening means in response tomovement of said clamp member lalong said guide axis in a direction toengage said thrust means with said clamping area; pushpull link meanspi-votally connected with said clamp member; and locking means pivotedon said bracket member for movement to locking land unlocking positionsand operably connected with said link means for transmitting pushing andpulling forces therethrough to said clamp member; said locking meanswhen in said locking position being effective through said push-pulllink means to hold said thrust means engaged with said clamping area andsaid guide stem means coioperably engaged with said guide opening means.

5. A clamping device for clamping a movable cover against a support;comprising a bracket member adapted to be attached to said support; amovable clamp member comprising -a body having thrust means engageableWith said cover for :applying clamping thrust thereto; one of saidmembers having guide opening means and the other member having guidestem means rigid therewith and receivable in said guide opening means;said guide opening means and Iguide stem means being co-operablyengageable to connect said clamp member with said bracket member inresponse to translatory movement of said clamp member relative to saidbracket member in a direction to engage said thrust means with saidcover; locking means Icomprising actuatable means mounted on saidbracket member and pivotally movable to locking and unlocking positions;and push-pull connecting link means connected between said actuatablemeans and said clamp member and operable -to transmit thrust in oppositedirections to the latter in response to movement of said actuatablemeans to said locking and unlocking positions; the thrust transmitted tosaid clamp member in one direction by said link means being elective tocause clamping action of said thrust means against said cover and tomaintain said guide stem means engaged in said guide opening means, yandthe thrust transmitted in the opposite direction -being effective tocause disengaging movement of said thrust means relative to said coverand disengaging movement between said guide stem means and said guideopening means.

6. A clamping device for use with closure structure comprising a supportand an associated movable cover means; comprising .a bracket memberadapted to be attached to said support; va movable clamp member; rst andsecond thrust means on said clamp member and disposed so as to beengageable with different clamping areas of said cover means lying inangularly disposed lirst and second planes; one of said members havingguide opening means 'and the other having guide stem means receivable insaid guide opening means; said guide opening means and said guide stemmeans being cooperably engageable on a common guide axis extending in aninclined relation -to said second plane in response to movement of saidclamp member along said guide axis 4in a direction for causing saidfirst and second thrust means to engage said clamping tareas; andlocking means comprising pivoted link means connected between saidbracket member and clamp member and actuatable from a locking conditioneffective to retain said guide stem means engaged in said guide openingmeans to an un- 8 locking condition with said yguide stem meansdisengaged from said guide opening means.

7. A clamping device for use with closure structure comprising a supportand 'an associated movable cover means having angularly disposed firstand second clamping areas comprising; a bracket member adapted to beIattached to said support; a movable clamp member com- -prising a bodyhaving first and second thrust stems projecting therefrom insubstantially the same angular relation to each other as the angularrelation between said clamping areas; iirst and second thrust means onsaid rst and second thrust stems; co-loperable guide means on saidmembers comprising la guide opening means and a guide stem meansreceivable therein; the Aguide means of said bracket member providing aguide axis extending in an intersecting relation to the plane of at=least one of said clamping areas when said cover means is on saidsupport, and said 4guide stem means being rigid with its associatedmember; said guide stem means being movable into said guide openingmeans in response to movement of said clamp member along said guideIaxis in -a direction to engage said rst and second thrust means withsaid first and second clamping areas; and llocking means comprisingpivoted -link means swingably yconnecting said clamp member 'with :saidbracket member and .actuatable from a locking condition eective toretain said guide stem means engaged in said 'guide `opening means to anunlocking condition with said guide stem means disengaged from saidguide opening means.

8. A clamping device as defined in claim 7 wherein said locking Imeanscompri-se push-pull link means pivotally connected with said body; andaotuatable means pivoted on said bracket member for movement to lockingand unlocking positions and operably connected with said link means fortransmittingr pushing and pulling forces through the latter to saidclamp member.

9. A clamping device for use with ia substantially upright support means`and an associated movable cover means having `a top portion providing arst clamping portion, and a side portion depending from said top portionand providing a second clamping portion in an angular relation to saidfirst clamping portion comprising; a bracket member adapted to beattached to said support means to extend in a laterally projectingrelation thereto; a movable clamp member comprising a body having iirstand `second thrust stems projecting therefrom in substantially the sameangular relation as that between said first and second clampingportions; first and second thrust means on said first and second thruststems; co-operable guide means `on said members comprising a `guideopening means and a guide stem means receivable therein; the guide meanstof said bracket member providing a guide axis extending in an inclineddirection downwardly and laterally relative to said support means, andsaid guide stem means being rigid with its `associated member; saidguide stem means being movable into said guide opening means in responseto movement of said clamp member along said guide axis in a direction toengage said first and second thrust means with said first and secondclamping portions; and llocking means comprising pivoted ylink meansswingably connecting said clamp member with said bracket member andactuatable trom a locking condition effective to retain said yguide stemmeans engaged in said guide opening means to an unlocking condition withsai-d guide stem means disengaged from said guide opening means.

l0. A clamping device as defined in claim 9 wherein said guide openingmeans is in said bracket member and said guide stem means is on the bodyof said clamp member,

11. A clamping rdevice as defined in claim 9 wherein said lirst andsecond thrust stems comprise threaded portions providing adjustableconnections 4between said thrust stems and said body.

l2. A clamping device as defined in claim 9 wherein 9 said body isprovided at the upper end thereof with an arm portion carrying said rstthrust stem and adapted to extend laterally above sai-d top portion ofthe cover means, and said Iguide opening means is in said bracketmember', said guide stern means being on the lower end of said body andprojecting therefrom.

13. A clamping -device as defined in claim 9' wherein the side portionof said cover means comprises iiexible sheet material and an associatedhatten strip; said first thrust stem and said iirst thrust means being`carried by the upper end portion of said lbody, and said yguide stemmeans and said second thrust stem being on the lower end portion of saidbody.

14. A clamping device as ldeiined in claim 9 wherein said -guide openingmeans is in said bracket member and said guide stem means is on the bodyof said clamp member; said bracket member having abutment means thereonengageable by said guide stern means in response to swinging movement ofsaid 'bracket member on `said link means in a direction away from saidsupport means after disengagement of said guide stern means from saidguide opening me ans.

15. A clamping device as deiined -in claim 9 wherein said bracket memberhas stop means thereon en-gageable by said link means -for limiting theactuatable movement 25 of the latter in the Ilocking direction.

16. A clam-ping device as defined in claim l5 wherein said stop meanscomprises stop elements on opposite sides of said bracket member, andsaid link means cornprises a pair lof link members ion opposite sides ofsaid bracket member and engageable with said stop elements lfor limitingthe actuatable movement of said link means in the locking direction,

\17. A clamping device as defined lin `claim 9 wherein said link meanscomprises a pair of connecting links on opposite sides of said bracketmember, and pivot pin portions projecting from said links at spacedpoints therealong for the application of actuating tool means to saidlink means.

18. A `clamping device according to claim 1 wherein said connectingmeans comprises toggle-action llink means and the movement Lof saidlocking means to locking position is an overcenter movement of saidtoggle-action link means.

19. A clamping device according to claim 1 wherein the crosssectionalshape of said `guide opening means and guide stem means is nonciroularfor preventing pivotal movement therebetween.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,088,100A Watson July 27, 193'/ 2,261,557 Matthews Nov. 4, 19412,636,766 Matthews Apr. 28, 1953

2. A CLAMPING DEVICE FOR CLAMPING A MOVABLE COVER AGAINST A SUPPORT;COMPRISING A BRACKET MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED TO SAID SUPPORT; AMOVABLE CLAMP MEMBER HAVING THRUST MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID COVER; ONEOF SAID MEMBERS HAVING GUIDE OPENING MEANS AND THE OTHER MEMBER HAVINGGUIDE STEM MEANS RIGID THEREWITH AND RECEIVABLE IN SAID GUIDE OPENINGMEANS; SAID GUIDE OPENING MEANS AND GUIDE STEM MEANS BEING CO-OPERABLYENGAGEABLE IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID CLAMP MEMBER RELATIVE TO SAIDBRACKET MEMBER IN A DIRECTION TO ENGAGE SAID THRUST MEANS WITH SAIDCOVER; AND LOCKING MEANS CONNECTING SAID CLAMP MEMBER WITH SAID BRACKETMEMBER AND ACTUATABLE FROM AN UNLOCKED CONDITION TO A LOCKED CONDITIONFOR RETAINING SAID THRUST MEANS IN CLAMPING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID COVERAND SAID GUIDE STEM MEANS ENGAGED IN SAID GUIDE OPENING MEANS; SAIDLOCKING MEANS COMPRISING SWINGABLE LINK MEANS HAVING A FIRST PIVOTALCONNECTION WITH SAID BRACKET MEMBER, AND CONNECTING LINK MEANS HAVINGSECOND AND THIRD PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS WITH SAID CLAMP MEMBER ANDSWINGABLE LINK MEANS FOR OVERCENTER MOVEMENT OF SAID SECOND PIVOTALCONNECTION TO PRODUCE SAID LOCKED AND UNLOCKED CONDITIONS.